Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
SIMONA
R ushing up behind Heidi, I wrap my arms around her, burying my face in her hair. “I love you, Ho. My heat is making me paranoid, and I think the tabs are making me cray-cray. I’m sorry for acting more bonkers than usual.”
Heidi pats my hand as Tristan joins our cuddle. “Pfft. Crazy is a good place to be. Now, I have to tell you girls I’m so fucking jealous of Raney. Like, aren’t you?”
I laugh. “God, yes. The way Koz looks at her. And Puck. I want that.”
Even Heidi agrees. “And don’t forget Hayes.”
Our three-way is interrupted when Raney suddenly appears. She throws herself into our cuddle, reeking of sex, making us mock growl at her. “Stop talking about my pack. Hmmm. I like saying my pack.” She purrs. One minute she’s giving us shit, the next she is racing away.
That’s what causes us to break up our huddle. The most unfit member of our quadruple running is something worth watching. We all get a little caught up cheering her on, with over-the-top shouting and clapping.
In the blink of an eye, everything changes.
Alpha aggression blasts outwards, and the immediate fallout is like a bomb going off. Confusion and fear grips everyone, making the panic build to higher proportions. I whimper, unable to cope with the surging emotions of the Alphas around me. It’s triggering. So many people being so emotionally volatile, in such close proximity, sends me spiralling.
The crushing surge of their sudden and explosive emotions keeps pressing against me, and I sink to my knees. People are racing in all directions, screaming and yelling, but my awareness has tunnelled. I can barely get air in my lungs—the air is saturated by so many Alphas responding to the crisis—and it adds to the feeling I’m being choked.
I have to focus on me. The instant I do, a muffled warmth radiates deep inside. I latch on to it like it’s a lifeline, because that’s exactly what it feels like.
Near me, someone screams, but the suppressor I took makes it like I’ve got cotton balls in my ears. The medication has also taken my ability to properly scent the situation, adding to the anxiety spreading through me. I feel stupid for taking the medication, especially now. I feel a tug from my chest and my sluggish thoughts finally figure out what it is—my connection with Dominic.
His presence surges through our new bond, and it’s full of compassion, worry, encouragement, belief too. It’s also the kick in the ass I need. Awareness returns with the reassurances he continues to flood through our bond, and his strength spreads through my veins. I lean into his support and start to see things better, clearer.
The plaza is littered with injured people. My thoughts are still wildly panicked but now Dominic has managed to reconnect, reach me past the medication. I get another reminder of what’s waiting for me if I survive this—Hendrix and Ryder appear like apparitions also soothing my fraying emotions. As soon as I visualise them, I remember in vivid detail all the overlapping and complex notes that make up Hendrix’s brutal but cathartic thunderstorm scent and it shakes me to my core. Like I did with Dominic, I latch on to the strength, the protection Hendrix always evokes when he’s near. Then slowly but surely, I start to hear Ryder’s soulful voice, singing and whispering encouragement. Delusions or not, I follow his instructions exactly as he tells me— stay down low, check around you, find somewhere safe to hide. Don’t forget Nigel and Dale are with you. Can you see them?
Nigel and Dale are both crouched protectively in front of me, taking direction from members of the Fallen MC. Raney and her Alphas are gone, Heidi and her security team have left. In the distance, I can see Tristan’s blonde hair spilling out from under King. I want to race to help her but in front of us men I’ve never seen are approaching.
Dale takes a slow, purposeful step into their path, his casual stance making it seem like he’s simply going to talk with him. He takes another step, closing the distance, while Nigel moves as well—only he heads towards me. They do it a couple of times, it’s obvious what they’re doing but before the other men even say a word, Dale has raced at them like a line-backer.
I watched, stunned, as he moves like he’s dancing between the two of them. However, his movements are not graceful, they are lethal and efficient.
“You good to go, Miss Simona?” Nigel says in his usual friendly manner.
His easy-going question was a little absurd given the chaos all around us and my obvious panic. The giggle that escapes from me only makes him grin wider, but at the same time his near nonchalant reaction is perfect. I go to him straight away.
He slips out of his plaid jacket and rests it on my shoulders before leading me away with a gentle but insistent hand on my lower back. His comfort helping me calm down even more. Even his Alpha scent is comforting. We’re not compatible partners, but I know I can trust him on some level, and I do.
“Mr. Torres arranged a jet for us. He got caught at the airport back home waiting on a pilot, but one is ready for you here. Will you be okay with Dale and me in the aircraft with you? Or would you like us to wait here until Mr. Torres gets you. He would, he said. And then Mr. Torres can get you home.”
Mr. Torres could be one of three, but they mean the same regardless of who Nigel is speaking about.
I shake my head. “I need to know my girlfriends are okay first. And then I want to go. No waiting, please. I’ll see Mr. Torres at home. It will be the quickest.”
He keeps guiding me away but pulls a phone out of his pocket. “Update.” He addresses the other person gruffly, which is completely opposite of the gentle way he is with me. Before Nigel has finished speaking on the phone, we’re rejoined by Dale. A flutter of nerves makes me lean into Nigel, but Dale either ignores or misses my slight aversion to him. He was a dick on New Year’s Eve though, so my wariness towards him has merit.
When he doesn’t try to apologize or pretend we’re ever going to get along, he actually gains my respect. So often we’re forced to be nice to people, while your instincts are screaming stay away.
Nigel notices my discomfort and adjusts his stance. I suspect he was also told by Hendrix that I asked for him personally, so he assumes the role of my personal guard while Dale watches us both.
As we come up to a large grey Range Rover, Nigel tells me King and the Fallen have Tristan, and she’s safe. Heidi is already on the road with her security team, and they’re headed straight to the airport. And Raney’s men, including Koz, Puck and Hayes are about to break a lot of laws to get her back.
Of course I burst into tears, knowing one of my best friends was kidnapped. I was in an okay place mentally by not focussing too much on the endless scenarios she’d get caught in. After his updates, my thoughts get swamped by my fears. Tears turn to bawling, and then all my emotions purge and I vomit. On Dale’s shoes.
Nigel rubs my back while Dale reaches through the car to grab a bottle of water. “Her Alphas will get her. They won’t be letting her go. If you’ve stopped vomiting, we need to go.”
“I’m sorry, Dale.”
“They’re shoes. No need to apologise, and honestly, it’s easier to clean off than blood so barely any harm done.”
He sounds like he’s nearly being hospitable, making me look up at him. He's got a smug look on his face. "Are you alright or should I wait for round two before I clean them off?"
I glare at him. Answer enough. But he shrugs instead of getting all defensive. The way he reacts is him to a tee, and exactly how I thought he would. It helps me settle down more though because he’s not pretending we’re friends. He’s actually giving me a way to reaffirm my faith in reading the situation right, sorting out fact from fiction.
“I’m fine. Still sorry because up chuck is gross,” I smart back softly.
“Can we go?”
I wash my mouth out and spit it next to the rear tire. And then instead of answering him in words, I pass him the bottle of water.
Nigel opens the door, and I get in. He follows after me and sits in the back next to me. Dale finishes cleaning his shoes before he gets in the driver’s side and then does a U-Turn, making the car screech as he speeds us away.
“Are you sure you shouldn’t help get Raney back?” I ask them both.
Nigel is sweet, he nods. “They’ll get her. I wouldn’t ever get between a pack of Alphas and their Omega.”
Dale’s answer is targeted more personal, but it works. “I’m not getting paid to watch her.”
Instead of getting offended, I pull up my feet and hide in the corner, wrapped in Nigel’s jacket before opening my senses, trying to push through my bond with Dominic that I’m safe. Until I remember my phone.
Digging through my bag, my phone has missed calls and texts from them but also from Heidi. I’ll call her back in a second.
Hendrix answers on the first ring. And immediately I feel better just hearing his voice. “Are you okay?”
“I think so. Scared and worried, but okay,” I admit, closing my eyes and taking a few deep, slow breaths.
“Nigel has given us an update. What can we do to help?”
“I just want to go back to Unity.”
“Of course, sweetheart. We weren’t sure what you wanted to do, so I had everything arranged to accommodate both scenarios. There’s a charter waiting for you at the airport, ready to bring you home. You’re safe with Nigel and Dale, and as soon as you are ready for us, you let us know. Okay?”
I take a steadying breath to stop my small freak out. Hearing once again they are providing me the tools, waiting for me to decide, is taking a little while to sink in. I’m forever grateful they keep referring to me as part of the process and not making decisions about me. Hendrix doesn’t rush me for an answer either, and it comes eventually. “Sounds perfect. Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Simona, this is what we were born to do. In case you haven’t noticed though, we kind of like you, and are able to provide.”
I laugh quietly at Hendrix being sweet. “I know. And I appreciate it. Are they okay? I wish you were here.”
“We are all fine. We will be with you as soon as you are ready for us.”
“I’d like that.”
“Such a good girl.” He says, his voice dipping low intimately.
Strangely, I know he’s smiling while he’s speaking. And I really like the way it makes me feel. “You go, sweetheart. We’re thinking about you. I hope you get through to your girlfriends, and they’re safe. If you need anything, and I mean anything, you let me know. Or Rye or Dom.”
“I will.” I go to hang up but stop because after today there’s things I want to say. “You all make me incredibly happy, Hendrix. I hope you each know that.”
“You just made three Alphas feel like they won the mega-lottery.”
“Good.” And this time when I go to hangup, I do. Feeling much lighter.
I dial Heidi next. She picks up on the first ring. “Simona? Can you believe what happened? Everything is only sinking in now. Honestly, I know we spoke but I’m sure I was in shock. What did we say?”
“It was pretty crazy. I think we all just said things like, are you okay? I’m okay. Love you, I’m calling Tris. Or something like that.”
Heidi hums, but the sound wavers with panic. In the next instant it’s like taking the cork out of a shaken bottle of champagne and everything explodes out of her. “Oh my god, Sim, it was horrible. Everything was crazy. I didn’t know where you guys were. I was so scared; I was helping some guy but the next thing I can properly remember is being in the car. I had a massive fight with Ayden. I just wanted to be with you guys. I wanted to help them get Raney.” A sob interrupts her offloading.
I don’t interrupt or interject because Heidi needs to let the control go, and to simply allow the build-up of rush to happen. It will be hard for her. I won’t let her go through it alone, but I also know she will be better for it.
“Poor Raney is going to be devastated and Koz is going to be homicidal. What if they don’t get her back in time. I couldn’t cope not having each of you with me. All this is happening at the worst time. And now I sound selfish turning this into a me thing when my best friend just got fucking abducted, and my other best friends vanished before I could triple check for myself they were okay!”
I must scent stressed because Dale starts driving fast.
On the other end of the phone, I hear Heidi breakdown, and my heart aches for her. I hate that she is suffering and alone. Her cries are loud and ugly. I give her the space but also let her know I’m here. “If I was with you, Heidi, I’d give you the biggest cuddle in the world. And I’d be crying with you. We are all okay. Slightly messed up after what happened today, but we need to remember everyone is safe. You know that, don’t you? I’m fine. I’m already on my way back to Unity. Tristan is apparently doing the same. I've had updates from a few people, texts too, but everything is a bit jumbled up in my head so I couldn't say who said what. It's okay you can't remember what happened, we were all very scared and stressed. As soon as she and I are together, we can Facetime you. ”
Through the phone, I hear a shudder and another softer wail.
“Raney’s pack will do everything in their power to get her back. Then they will look after our girl for us. They’ll make sure she gets the very best attention.” I take a slow and deliberately loud inhale, hoping she’ll follow suit and calm down. “We’re going to be okay. I promise.”
I hate Heidi going back to her big empty house, and a life full of assholes. I focus on infusing as much peace as I can into our phone call. Trying to help her rebalance after she finally purged. “The four of us are much stronger and we are more than capable of what the world keeps throwing our way. And one day, we’ll look back on today as the day everything changed.”
“And that means?” she asks quickly. There’s no longer the chaos of wild terror that was in her voice before.
“Good times are coming.”
Another breath, but it’s no longer shaky, it’s fortifying. “God, I hope so, Simona. I’m so done with all of this.”
“Nothing is going to hold you back, Heidi. Not this, not what Kai did. Nothing. And I for one couldn’t be prouder of who you are, and what you’ve done. Verdune Pharmaceuticals is going to go from strength to strength with you driving its success.”
I hear Heidi, making a strangled sound like a half sob and frustrated wail but she is back to being in control. Her next breath is measured, and a little distant, but it’s Heidi being Heidi, and that’s what is important. “I needed to hear your voice, Sim. I love you. Are you sure you don’t want to come back to the Estate with me?”
“No, you’ve got things you need to do. Plus, I’ve got to go back to Unity. After that, who knows, maybe I have somewhere I need to be.”
I hear a soft laugh from her. “Simona Vanderling, are you holding out on me? It sounds like there’s a story I should know.”
The four of us might share a lot with each other, but we also keep a lot of secrets to ourselves. “I promise I’ll be safe. I also know you’re only a phone call away if I need to. By the way, I love you.”
Heidi interrupts. “Sim, I’m sorry, I have to go. Dad’s calling.”
“Go be amazing and kick some ass. I know exactly where you are.” I hang up on her so she can speak with her father, but also so I don’t take her up on her offer of confessing everything.
I turn my own attention to the message I got while talking with Heidi. I wasn’t going to interrupt her to check.
My stomach drops as I reread the information on the gynaecologist’s appointment scheduled for a few days’ time. Seeing the detail of the appointment in black and white is quite different to hearing the threat from Brody’s father before I left for Unity. It takes me a second to remember the email confirming the appointment. At the time it seemed like something happening to someone else, but the date and time now is too realistic.
There’s no doubt in my mind this is Brody being spiteful after our run in at the hospital. Right now, I do what I’ve wanted to for so long, I do the opposite of what is expected. I type N and hit send before talking myself out of cancelling the appointment.
After first hearing the threat of having to undergo a medical exam to verify my virginity—despite no longer being one thanks to Brody, I’d googled other reasons why hymens break. There were a few options that would have medically worked. I could have joined the Unity Equestrian Club, their bicycling sports team, or even the gymnastics squad to hide what he did. And I nearly did, until I remembered Dr. Carlisle would be the one tasked with the examination. He’s loyal to the founding family and will always give them the answer they want whether it is moral or not.
The speed of the Range Rover drops, and I’m surprised to see we’re already at the airport. And like Hendrix promised there’s a small charter plane ready and waiting. As we pull to a stop he texts.
Travel safely. Rest up, and once you’re back in your room at Unity give us a call.
After a quick group text to the girls letting them know I’ll be in the air, I send more detailed messages to Hendrix, Dominic and Ryder. I flick my phone to flight mode as we start taxiing down the runway. Before we’ve levelled out, my eyes start closing. I let myself sleep knowing it will be the best thing to do.
The bump of the landing gears wakes me up. And I feel a lot better, clearer in my head than I did before. I’m still a ball of worry and anxiety but that’s nothing new.
Nigel and Dale stay in full protection mode on the drive back to Unity.
“We’re staying here, so if you need anything just call,” Nigel says as he walks me to the gate.
“I’m not sure what I’m doing yet but I’ll keep you in the loop,” I offer as I walk off.